SRI LANKA halted a 96,000-ton shipment of fertiliser from China on Wednesday (29) citing quality issues.
Agriculture minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage stopped the cargo of organic fertiliser as samples showed harmful bacteria, his office said in a statement.
In May, the government banned the import of chemical fertiliser, part of an ambitious drive to go fully organic.
The organic plant nutrients from China were meant to replace the phased-out chemicals during the main rice cultivation season, starting early October.
"The minister decided not to import the organic nitrogen fertiliser from China to be used in the 'Maha' (big) cultivation season," the statement said.
"When we tested the fertiliser samples sent by the Chinese supplier, we found in them bacteria that is harmful to the soil," it quoted the minister as saying.
The ministry said it would "focus on somehow providing fertiliser requirements of farmers".
Officials said the cargo was ready to be shipped to Sri Lanka when the government decided to cancel the order, worth an estimated $42 million (£31m).
The government had offered subsidies to local farmers to produce their own compost, but they failed to meet demand - hence the Chinese imports, officials said.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa came to power in 2019 promising subsidised foreign fertiliser, but did a U-turn arguing that agro chemicals were poisoning people.
His administration has denied that the ban on chemical fertiliser, herbicides and pesticides is because of a foreign exchange shortage, maintaining that it is committed to healthier agriculture.
It has halted other imports, including vehicles and spare parts.
Farmers of rice - the main foreign exchange-earning export commodity, along with tea - have warned crops could be halved without chemicals.
Former central bank deputy governor and economic analyst WA Wijewardena called the organic project "a dream with unimaginable social, political and economic costs".
He said Sri Lanka's food security had been "compromised" and that without foreign currency it was "worsening day by day".
(AFP)
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)